A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Blech family of Switzerland.
Reg. 0701 · Swiss, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
cramponFirm hold on what has been gained
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à un crampon de sa. (la tête en forme de flèche, soutenu d'un tertre de trois coupeaux de sin. Cq. cour. C.: un bélier iss. d'arg. L. d'arg. et de gu.”
SwitzerlandBâle, c. 1745
Where the Blech Arms Were Recorded
Bâle
Map of Switzerland showing where the Blech arms are recorded
The Blech arms were recorded in Bâle, c. 1745.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Switzerland in this period.
How Arms Worked in Switzerland
In Switzerland, coats of arms were not restricted to the nobility and were often adopted by common citizens and families. These symbols were passed down through generations to show family identity. When branches of a family grew, they often changed small details of the design to distinguish their own line from the original group.
Granting authority
Cantonal and civic authorities managed the use of coats of arms within their specific regions and local jurisdictions.
How they got arms
Families typically assumed their own coats of arms based on local custom rather than receiving them from a central monarch.
Where arms were recorded
Arms were recorded in various cantonal and civic registers starting from the fourteenth century throughout the Swiss region.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Switzerland.
Origin & History of the Blech Family in Switzerland
The family name Blech has deep roots in the city of Bâle, where records confirm members of the family were well-established by 1745. The name itself is of Germanic origin and is often associated with the Middle High German word for sheet metal or tin. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to bear the name may have been skilled metalworkers, tinsmiths, or traders in the bustling markets of the region. As the family grew, they became active participants in the economic and civic life of Bâle, which was a vital center for trade and craftsmanship in the eighteenth century. By settling in this influential city, the Blech family integrated into a society that valued technical expertise and commercial enterprise, helping to shape their identity as they moved through the generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Blech
Middle High German term for thin metal plate or sheet metal.
This name
BlechAn occupational surname for a tinsmith, metalworker, or someone who worked with sheet metal.
also spelled
Bleche
Bleck
Blechh
Blek
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Burckhardt, A. E., Die Familie Blech in Basel, 1925
Staatsarchiv Basel-Stadt, Bürgerverzeichnisse und Einwohnerregister, 1745
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
cramponFirm hold on what has been gained
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
cramponFirm hold on what has been gained
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
